West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s nephew Akash Banerjee was today denied bail and sent to judicial custody till 3 March in connection with assaulting a traffic constable.
A Kolkata court rejected Akash’s bail application on Thursday and sent him to judicial custody.
Akash has been charged under four sections of the Indian Penal Code, including the non-bailable offence of assaulting a public servant.
Akash was arrested on Wednesday for slapping a traffic constable after being pulled up for violating traffic rules and rash driving.
The police refused to confirm whether Akash Banerjee was the nephew of the chief minister as he claimed. However, eyewitnesses said Akash shouted at the police saying he was the chief minister’s nephew when his car was stopped for violating traffic rules.
“When the man was stopped by the traffic police, he said, “Do you know who I am? I am the CM’s nephew”, said the eyewitness.
The Congress chief of West Bengal said he will inquire why Akash was sent to judicial custody before being sent to police custody. He said, “Maybe police did this to avoid complications.”